Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in the WHO European Region, and Europe has the highest burden of type 1 diabetes in the world. It is estimated that 1 in 10 people living in the Region will have diabetes by 2045.

Some types of diabetes can be prevented by targeting risk factors such as obesity and providing more health-supporting environments. If diabetes is not diagnosed and controlled effectively, complications such as permanent vision loss, lower limb amputation and kidney disease can occur. People living with diabetes are also at increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

An estimated 74 million adults (11.9% of men and 10.9% of women) and around 300 000 children and adolescents are living with diabetes in the WHO European Region, which has the highest burden of type 1 diabetes in the world.

The number of deaths from diabetes is rising, and is projected to double between 2005 and 2030. The burden of disease is increasing due to ageing populations and increasing prevalence of risk factors: it is estimated that 1 in 10 Europeans will be living with diabetes by 2045.

An estimated 1 in 3 people living with diabetes remain undiagnosed, and up to half may not meet their treatment targets. People with diabetes can live well but are often held back by unsupportive health systems. Treatments for diabetes and its complications exist, but are not always available, accessible and affordable in our Region. When glucose levels are not adequately controlled, complications of diabetes present a significant disease burden for individuals and countries.

The WHO Global Diabetes Compact initiative has a vision to reduce the risk of diabetes and ensure that all those diagnosed have access to quality care and equitable, comprehensive and affordable treatment.

The WHO European Region aims to support countries to implement cost-effective prevention and control programmes. This includes reducing risk factors through multisectoral, population-based policies and strengthening primary health care while prioritizing vulnerable populations. This will help us to achieve our goal of reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

The Region works to:

• prevent type 2 diabetes and ensure early diagnosis of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes;
• improve quality of care by improving control of blood glucose and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, screening for early detection and prevention of complications, and supporting self-management;
• standardize clinical monitoring and implement population-based surveys;
• enable access to essential medicines and technologies for diabetes care;
• engage people with diabetes in the design and implementation of our programmes; and
• strengthen health-care systems, such as by including diabetes in integrated NCD care in primary health care, in universal health coverage, and in the response to health emergencies and humanitarian crises.